I don't usually write reviews, but seeing several misleading ones here, I decided to add my own. One reviewer laments the lack of Luxembourg locale. I believe Luxembourg is one of the producing countries as well as one of several filming locations of this mini-series. Not having been to Luxembourg I cannot say for sure, but I took it that the first part, which is set in that country, is actually filmed there, even if it's only a few generic city streets and buildings. Luxembourg serves very well as a country where a CIA agent might have a bank job as cover for his clandestine activities, and where an American nurse and a Czech born young doctor work in a hospital. Personally, I never expected to see "chocolate box" pictures of Luxembourg, so don't see a problem with the representation of the country.
Another reviewer seems to have read the book but not watched the film. It seems that much of the book is set in Afghanistan. I haven't read it, so can't say. While it may be interesting to know how realistically the author describes the country and conditions there, in the film the action takes place in the Nagorny-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan. So a review concentrating solely on conditions in Afghanistan is not really helpful here.
The storyline is this: Jack (Timothy Dalton) is a CIA field agent who is sent to Azerbaijan to safely bring a tribal leader from the region, Safar Khan (Omar Sharif), to a conference in a Western country. Jack is rather cynical, and immediately points out that it's not about human rights, but purely about oil, and initially he refuses to have anything to do with the mission and walks out on his superiors. However, there is video footage that can be used to persuade him to take on the mission.
After this short introduction the film moves to Luxembourg and we are filled in on the back story of the main characters: Kate (Marg Helgenberger) is an American nurse with a social conscience who is in a relationship with Jack (Dalton), but also in close contact and very friendly with Peter (Nigel Havers), an idealistic young doctor who grew up in Czechoslovakia (the "Dubcek, Dubcek" flashbacks he has during the riot scene make that clear). It's obvious the rather sensitive Peter has always been in love with Kate and is jealous of the confident Jack. While Kate genuinely loves Jack, he uses her as contact and cover for his CIA activities, but shows just enough respect for her to warn her of his cynical nature.
Towards the end of part one, we find out that Peter is indebted to the Russian secret service, his studies having been sponsored by them. He learns about Jack's CIA involvement and warns Kate that her lover is using her. Finding out for herself that this is true, Kate decides to go with Peter when he is sent to the war torn region of Nagorny-Karabakh in Azerbaijan to work there as a doctor for a medical aid organization.
Part two of the film is set in Azerbaijan. Kate and Peter are married now, and she is expecting their child. Peter's KGB handlers are starting to call in favours, Kate gives birth. It is video footage of Kate in this place that's used to persuade Jack to go to Azerbaijan. He's caught up in an ambush, gets shot and ends up in Peter and Kate's clinic in need of treatment. In this environment nobody trusts anybody and everybody has their own agenda.
Giving away how the story pans out from there would be too much of a spoiler for a review. Let me just say that it's a nice mix of adventure, spy thriller and romantic triangle which should appeal to a wide audience. The run time of 180 minutes means that there is plenty time for the back story and there are no holes in the plot.
The cast is impressive, and the acting very good all round. Marg Helgenberger is believable and very likable as Kate, Dalton is a great actor whatever he does, but I can't find much likeness to his Bond in this. He's ruggedly handsome in shabby jeans and a parka, but his character reminds me more of Clancy's CIA agents than of 007. Nigel Havers is well cast as the hapless doctor. His character is not very likable, but he plays it well. Juergen Prochnow (familiar to international audiences as captain of Das Boot) is a menacing villain indeed, and Omar Sharif is quite perfect as wise and wily tribal leader. Overall, it's worth while watching if you can find it. Just as long as you don't expect to see either too much of Luxembourg or anything of Afghanistan. And keep in mind that this was produced as a mini-series for TV, not as a feature film for theatrical release.
Another reviewer seems to have read the book but not watched the film. It seems that much of the book is set in Afghanistan. I haven't read it, so can't say. While it may be interesting to know how realistically the author describes the country and conditions there, in the film the action takes place in the Nagorny-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan. So a review concentrating solely on conditions in Afghanistan is not really helpful here.
The storyline is this: Jack (Timothy Dalton) is a CIA field agent who is sent to Azerbaijan to safely bring a tribal leader from the region, Safar Khan (Omar Sharif), to a conference in a Western country. Jack is rather cynical, and immediately points out that it's not about human rights, but purely about oil, and initially he refuses to have anything to do with the mission and walks out on his superiors. However, there is video footage that can be used to persuade him to take on the mission.
After this short introduction the film moves to Luxembourg and we are filled in on the back story of the main characters: Kate (Marg Helgenberger) is an American nurse with a social conscience who is in a relationship with Jack (Dalton), but also in close contact and very friendly with Peter (Nigel Havers), an idealistic young doctor who grew up in Czechoslovakia (the "Dubcek, Dubcek" flashbacks he has during the riot scene make that clear). It's obvious the rather sensitive Peter has always been in love with Kate and is jealous of the confident Jack. While Kate genuinely loves Jack, he uses her as contact and cover for his CIA activities, but shows just enough respect for her to warn her of his cynical nature.
Towards the end of part one, we find out that Peter is indebted to the Russian secret service, his studies having been sponsored by them. He learns about Jack's CIA involvement and warns Kate that her lover is using her. Finding out for herself that this is true, Kate decides to go with Peter when he is sent to the war torn region of Nagorny-Karabakh in Azerbaijan to work there as a doctor for a medical aid organization.
Part two of the film is set in Azerbaijan. Kate and Peter are married now, and she is expecting their child. Peter's KGB handlers are starting to call in favours, Kate gives birth. It is video footage of Kate in this place that's used to persuade Jack to go to Azerbaijan. He's caught up in an ambush, gets shot and ends up in Peter and Kate's clinic in need of treatment. In this environment nobody trusts anybody and everybody has their own agenda.
Giving away how the story pans out from there would be too much of a spoiler for a review. Let me just say that it's a nice mix of adventure, spy thriller and romantic triangle which should appeal to a wide audience. The run time of 180 minutes means that there is plenty time for the back story and there are no holes in the plot.
The cast is impressive, and the acting very good all round. Marg Helgenberger is believable and very likable as Kate, Dalton is a great actor whatever he does, but I can't find much likeness to his Bond in this. He's ruggedly handsome in shabby jeans and a parka, but his character reminds me more of Clancy's CIA agents than of 007. Nigel Havers is well cast as the hapless doctor. His character is not very likable, but he plays it well. Juergen Prochnow (familiar to international audiences as captain of Das Boot) is a menacing villain indeed, and Omar Sharif is quite perfect as wise and wily tribal leader. Overall, it's worth while watching if you can find it. Just as long as you don't expect to see either too much of Luxembourg or anything of Afghanistan. And keep in mind that this was produced as a mini-series for TV, not as a feature film for theatrical release.